Parents

Musings of a Mother | Children & Ramadhan

~ modernmuslimahmusings ~ Leave a comment

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Alhamdulillah I was asked to do a talk at a conference recently about how to motivate children about Ramadhan. So I did some research and put together a power point in preparation and thought it would be great to share it in a article format on here for others to access and  benefit from inshaAllah. I hope it makes it a little easier for mothers like myself to have relevant and useful information and ideas all in one place rather then having to scroll through pages and pages of the google search engine, especially if they are doing this for the very first time inshaAllah.

FOCUS

Question: How can we encourage children to make the most of Ramadhan? (In a easy, not too time consuming and inexpensive way!)

1) BEHAVIOUR

2) LEARNING

3) FUN!

But first…

INTENTIONS

It is narrated on the authority of Umar bin al-Khattab (RA), who said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW), say”:

“Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and his Messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.“

Related by Bukhari & Muslim

INTENTION+MOTHERHOOD=IBADAH

A good action with the wrong intention will not get us any reward in the Hereafter.

But every little action we do such as changing nappies, feeding our children, even playing with them, if it is done with the intention of attaining Allah (swts) pleasure then we will be rewarded.

Therefore looking after our families is an act of ibadah.

1) BEHAVIOUR

…Think about your child/rens behaviour…

Q. What do you think needs to change/improve?

1) Behaviour – some examples…

  • co-operate with siblings
  • more charitable
  • be polite with siblings
  • be more helpful
  • share with others
  • follow instructions
  • practice the sunnah more
  • less screen time
  • compliment others more
  • be more organised

1)BEHAVIOUR – HOW? DAILY DEED POT (all ages)

Have a pot/box/envelope (whatever works for you) and have different “deeds” written on strips of paper inside. Pull out a strip each day and do the deed (this is also great for adults too). For ready to cut out deeds, visit:

http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2015/06/09/30-days-of-good-deeds-for-a-ramadan-jar/

1)BEHAVIOUR – HOW? ACCOUNTABILITY (all ages)

At the end of the day, get you child to “account” for each day, to self-reflect on how their day was.

1.What was good about it?

2.What could they have done better?

Note: this is something we should also be doing, so why not try to instil this from a young age?

1) BEHAVIOUR – HOW? ACCOUNTABILITY (all ages)

  • Diary
  • Post its pinned onto a board
  • Discussion
  • Evaluation worksheets
  • Routine/behaviour charts
  • Sticker charts and stickers

2) LEARNING

…Think about your child/rens learning…

Q. What do you want them to learn in Ramadan?

2)LEARNING – Some examples…

  • Fasting
  • Seerah
  • Recitation of Quran
  • Learning Arabic
  • Learning about zakah
  • Memorisation of duas/surahs
  • Learning about Laylatul Qadr
  • Modest dress/hijab
  • Correcting their tajweed
  • Learning about salah
  • Practising their salah
  • Learning about the revelation of the Quran

2)LEARNING

Choose 1 area and focus on that all the way through Ramadan or choose 3 areas and focus on each every 10 days:

Eg: for my 6 year old son:

First 10 days: Fasting

Next 10 days: Salah

Last 10 days: Laylatul Qadr

Or if you are feeling really ambitious, do focus on something different each day?!!

2)LEARNING – HOW? BOOKS/STORYTELLING

https://www.azharacademy.com/Scripts/default.asp

http://www.muslimchildrensbooks.co.uk/

https://www.simplyislam.com/products/kids-corner/Children-Books

http://www.kubepublishing.com/children/

2)LEARNING – HOW? WEBSITES

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Ramadan/

http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/ramadan/games.htm

http://www.islamicplayground.com/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=60

These and other websites include stories, games, tasks, wordsearch, nasheeds, talks for children and much more!

2)LEARNING – HOW? SOME OTHER IDEAS…

1.SET A DAILY HALAQA TIME

2.AUTOMATIC REMINDERS ON GADGETS

3.SPENDING TIME TOGETHER

4.DUA/SURAH TICK LIST

5.AT THE MASJID

6.TALKS ONLINE (YOUTUBE)

7.COURSES THEY/YOU CAN ATTEND

3) FUN!!!

…Think about what your child/ren most enjoy…

Q. What fun ways can you use to inspire them in Ramadan?

3) FUN – Some examples…

SUPER EASY LITTLE EFFORT MORE EFFORT
COLOURING IN PLAY DOUGH RECYCLING
STORY WRITING PUZZLES HAND PRINTING
READING PUPPET PLAY MAKING PUPPETS
WRITING COLLAGE FOAM PRINTING
ONLINE GAMES ROLE PLAY FINGER PAINTING
MAKE BELIEVE RAMADAN/EID CARDS/DECORATIONS NO BAKE CLAY
WORKSHEETS BOARD GAMES CREATE A GAME

3) FUN – HOW?

ACTIVITY AND CRAFT IDEA BOOKS

http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=137

http://amuslimchildisborn.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/ramadan-activity-book-for-kids.html

WEBSITES WITH PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS

http://modestmunchies.com/49-ways-to-get-kids-involved-in-ramadan/

https://jeddahmom.com/2015/06/printable-activities-and-crafts-for-ramadan/

WEBSITES WITH PRINTABLE WORKSHEETS

http://www.muslimkidsdigest.com/free-muslim-coloring-book-for-kids/

https://gb.education.com/worksheets/ramadan/

WEBSITES THAT SELL GAMES, TOYS AND PUZZLES ETC

http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=137

https://www.anafiya.com/collections/kids-islamic-toys

https://www.ibraheemtoyhouse.com/product-category/ramadan-2018/

http://darussalam.com/children-section/games-and-toys.html

DISCUSS IDEAS WITH FRIENDS/RELATIVES

IMPORTANT REMINDER…

A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).

Alhamdulillah sisters, we have been granted this great status and it is a blessing and honour, so use your blessed position to seek help from the One who has honoured you.

DUA! DUA! DUA! Ask help from Allah swt for EVERY little thing including being successful in motivating and encouraging our children, not just for Ramadhan but for the rest of their lives.

May Allah swt enable us to be the best we can be as parents to our children and empower our children to become the best of their generation. Aameen!

Please note I have not checked above websites in depth, I strongly advise you to do so before buying/trying etc.

Musings of a daughter.

~ modernmuslimahmusings ~ 1 Comment

بِسْمِاللَّهِالرَّحْمَنِالرَّحِيم “… Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayanee sagheeran”

“My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.” [Quran; Surah Al-Isra, Verse 24]

The Baobab Tree, also known as the “Tree of Life”. Photo taken by myself in Fuengirola zoo , Malaga, Spain 2017

Just over two years ago my dear father suffered a major heart attack, it was one of the scariest days of our lives. Alhamdulillah, praise is to Allah swt that blessed my father with a full recovery.

My beloved mother suffered a fall last year in which she fractured her hip and had to have a hip replacement operation, alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah swt, her recovery has been steady and slow but she has managed to remain independent.

Yesterday, we had another scare and my dear father was taken to hospital. Alhamdulillah it wasn’t as serious as we thought it might be and he was sent home today.

My blessed parents are in their 70’s and every day I am grateful that they are with us. May Allah swt bless them with true imaan, good health, wealth and much happiness. May Allah swt protect them from all evil and hardship. Aameen.

For many, parents are the glue that hold a family together. Like the roots of a strong tree that bares beautiful fruits and flowers. The “blessing” that parents are, make any special occasion or family event incomplete without them.

But sometimes in our own day to day life we become so busy that we forget to tend to that “blessing” and we unknowingly start to neglect the roots of the tree from which our own life has grown from. Even when we don’t mean to.

Its important to remind ourselves that time will not stop for anyone.

Our life is limited on this Earth and sometimes it feels like the days are dizzily disappearing into weeks that are fizzling fast out into months. Its no excuse but with a stressful job that requires a lot more energy and time that it really doesn’t pay enough for, and a young family that has never-ending needs. Time is something I feel I just don’t have, MOST of the time.

But, observing my dear mother this morning, slowly and purposefully making chicken soup with her arthritic riddled, rickety hands for my dear father to have on his return from the hospital. I realised I have to make the time.

We all do. To collect as many blessings as we can, we have to “unbusy” ourselves to save our souls from future regret. We have to tend to the roots of the tree, water it and look after it.

As children we have the best of intentions, and we do try our best and we can only do our best. So lets make sure we are doing just that inshaAllah. If that means other things have to take a back seat then so be it.

Time is limited, just pick and prioritise. Call your parents more often, visit them regularly, buy them gifts especially flowers and always pray for them. Look after that tree!

“Rabbana ighfir lee waliwalidayya walilmumineena yawma yaqoomu alhisabu”
“Our L
forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.” [Quran: Surah Ibrahim, Verse 41]

May Alla
ect our parents from all harm and evil, bless them with the best of everything in this world and the Hereafter and reward them for all they did for us. Aameen ❤️